The stairs seemed to go on forever, spiraling deeper and deeper into the heart of the mountain. The air grew colder, and the darkness pressed in on her from all sides. Eventually, the staircase ended, and Elysia found herself in a vast, open chamber. The walls were smooth and reflective, like polished obsidian, and the ground was covered in a thin layer of mist that swirled around her ankles.
In the center of the chamber stood a large, ancient mirror, its surface rippling like water. Elysia approached cautiously, her reflection distorted and twisted in the strange glass. The voice from before returned, now a soft murmur in the air.
“The first trial awaits you, Elysia. The Mirror of Memories will show you what you fear most—what you have buried deep within yourself. Only by facing the truth can you proceed.”
Elysia’s heart pounded as she stared into the mirror. At first, it showed nothing but her own reflection. Then, slowly, the image began to change. The reflection of herself faded, and in its place, she saw her childhood home in Alhadeer, the small house where she had grown up with her parents and younger brother. She smiled at the familiar sight, but her smile quickly faded as the scene darkened.
The house began to collapse, the roof caving in and the walls crumbling. Flames erupted from the windows, and the sky turned black with smoke. Elysia watched in horror as shadowy figures, like the one she had encountered earlier, surrounded the burning house. Among the figures, she saw her family, their faces twisted in pain and terror as the shadows consumed them.
“No!” Elysia cried, her voice breaking. “This isn’t real!”
But the mirror continued to show the horrific scene, her family’s screams echoing in her ears. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to look away, but the mirror held her gaze, forcing her to watch. She felt the overwhelming guilt of not being able to protect them, the fear that she would fail her village the way she had failed her family.
“Face the truth,” the voice urged. “Only then can you move forward.”
Elysia’s hands shook, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She wanted to run, to escape the nightmare the mirror showed her. But deep down, she knew this was part of the trial. She had to confront her fear—the fear of failure, of loss.
Summoning every ounce of strength she had, Elysia forced herself to stand tall. “I can’t change the past,” she whispered, her voice shaking but resolute. “But I can protect those who are still alive. I won’t let fear control me.”
The moment she spoke the words, the image in the mirror began to dissolve. The burning house, the shadows, her family—all of it faded away, replaced by her own reflection once more. But this time, her reflection was calm, steady, her eyes filled with determination.
The chamber hummed with energy, and the voice returned, this time warm and approving.
“You have faced your fear and spoken the truth. The first trial is complete.”
The mirror shimmered, and a doorway appeared on the far side of the chamber, leading deeper into the cave. Elysia wiped the tears from her eyes, her heart lighter than it had been in days. She had passed the first trial, but she knew there were more to come.
With renewed determination, she stepped through the doorway and into the unknown once more.
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